United States Department of Agriculture

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

VS Guidance 8000.2

1

Surveillance and Testing Requirements for Interstate Transport of Wild Caught Cervids 

1. Purpose and Background

To establish new or augment existing free-ranging herds, States or Tribes may transport 

wild-caught cervids (elk, deer, moose, or other cervidae) from one State or Tribal location to 

another for release. The movement is subject to approval by the animal health officials of 

the receiving State and Veterinary Services (VS).

This document establishes a recommended minimum standard for testing and a uniform 

process of disease risk assessment that States or Tribes should follow to help prevent the 

spread of cervid diseases such as chronic wasting disease (CWD), bovine tuberculosis (TB), 

and brucellosis when wild cervids are captured for interstate movement and release.

Cervid movements between, from, or to all American Zoological and Aquarium Association 

(AZA) accredited facilities and certified related facilities will follow all State and Federal 

movement requirements as stated in their current written policies.

This guidance document represents the Agency’s position on this topic. It does not create or 

confer any rights for or on any person and does not bind the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) or the public. The information it contains may be made available to the public. While 

this document provides guidance for users outside VS, VS employees may not deviate from 

the directions provided herein without appropriate justification and supervisory concurrence.

2. Document Status

A. Review date: 09/07/20.

B. Replaces VS Guidance 8000.1 issued September 22, 2016.

3. Reason for Reissuance 

VS has revised this document to clarify the CWD surveillance requirements set forth within. 

4. Authority and References

A. Authorities (Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)):

7 CFR 371.4

9 CFR 77.32

9 CFR 77.38

9 CFR 81.2

9 CFR 81.3
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B. References: 

VS Guidance Document 6701, “Tests for TB in Farmed and Captive Cervids” 

5. Audience

VS employees, other Federal and State agencies, and members of the public.

6. Guidance

States or Tribes moving wild cervids interstate for release must document that the source 

population within a 50-mile radius of the capture site and the specific animals to be moved 

are low risk for infection with bovine TB, brucellosis, and CWD based on a combination of 

individual animal testing and surveillance in the source population.

States or Tribes can document disease risk status through:

• Hunter harvest surveillance.

• Roadkill surveillance.

• Captive cervid surveillance.

• Other domestic livestock surveillance for TB and brucellosis.

The regulations at title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) part 77 describe the TB 

testing requirements for moving cervids interstate. However, States and Tribes may find it 

impractical to meet the requirement for a whole-herd test in wild populations of cervids. In 

this situation, a State or Tribe may ask VS to waive the whole-herd test requirement with the 

concurrence of animal health officials in the receiving State. VS generally requires TB 

testing of the individual animals to be moved as a condition of the waiver. Currently, an 

importing State or Tribe may specify brucellosis testing requirements. Attachment 1 

describes VS’ recommended minimum testing protocol for TB and brucellosis in wild-caught 

cervids moved interstate for release. States or Tribes receiving these cervids may impose 

additional testing requirements.

Additionally, 9 CFR 81.3 requires that States or Tribes moving wild cervids interstate for 

release document that the source population is at low risk for CWD through wildlife 

surveillance. The movement is subject to approval by the animal health officials of the 

receiving State or Tribe and VS.

A. Approvals

1) States or Tribes interested in capturing wild cervids and moving them interstate for 

release will submit the required documentation described below for review and 

approval to the following:
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VS Guidance 8000.2

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a. VS District Office in the originating and receiving States.

b. State or Tribal animal health officials in the originating and receiving States. 

2) The shipping and receiving State or Tribal authorities and VS Assistant Director in 

the corresponding District Offices of both States will review the submitted documents 

for completeness. They will discuss problems with supporting documentation (i.e., 

missing, inadequate, or unclear documents) with the appropriate contact in the State

or Tribe of origin. Once the State or Tribe of origin has provided all required 

documentation, the receiving States or Tribes and VS will complete their review.

3) The VS Assistant Director in the receiving State will forward the documentation with 

his or her recommendation for approval to the Cervid Health Program. 

4) The Cervid Health Program will review the documentation. The Director overseeing 

the Cervid Health Program will notify the State or Tribe of origin and the receiving 

States or Tribes if VS approves interstate movement and release of wild-caught 

cervids. 

5) Approval will not be granted for interstate movement and release of wild-caught 

cervids from States or zones having a recognized wildlife reservoir of bovine TB, 

brucellosis, or CWD as determined by the APHIS Administrator.

6) The State or Tribe of origin, the receiving States or Tribes, and VS will each sign the 

Agreement for Interstate Transportation of Wild Cervids (Attachment 2) to complete 

the approval process. A copy of this document should accompany the certificate of 

veterinary inspection.

B. Required Documentation

States and Tribes moving wild cervids interstate for release will submit a summary 

statement and supporting documentation that demonstrates that the source population 

and the specific animals to be moved are low risk for infection with bovine TB, 

brucellosis, and CWD. This documentation can be based on individual animal testing, 

surveillance in the source population, or both. VS requests the following documentation 

from the State or Tribe of origin to fully evaluate the potential risk of these diseases in 

the source population:

1) A description of the translocation project including cervid type, number of animals, 

capture sites, disease mitigation factors, active and passive surveillance activities, 

animal health testing protocols before and after movement, disposition of injured 

animals, and States or Tribes of destination. Additional supporting documentation 

should include:
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VS Guidance 8000.2

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a. Maps showing a 50-mile radius of the areas such as counties or game 

management units where wild cervids will be sourced for capture. Include the 

involvement of any adjacent State or Tribal area.

b. Descriptions of the population density of wild cervids within those locations and 

methods used to estimate and define the source population, with emphasis on 

the cervid species to be translocated.

c. Descriptions of previous or historic wild cervid translocations into or out of this 

geographic region (origin of the cervids, their species, when the movement 

occurred, destination).

2) Description of the area’s disease history, surveillance, and epidemiology for CWD, 

including documentation that CWD has not been detected within the State, the 

source population, or within 50 miles of the capture site which could include adjacent 

States or provinces. Specifically, the summary should describe how the State or 

Tribe determined the origin population to be low risk for CWD by addressing:

a. CWD surveillance of wild cervids within the 50-mile radius of the capture site.

1. Describe the surveillance design, detection limit, and surveillance streams 

ideally including both passive (e.g., hunter harvest surveillance, roadkill 

surveillance) and active surveillance (e.g., sharpshooting in a specified area). 

2. Describe the tissues collected, type of CWD test used, and the laboratory that 

performed the testing. 

3. Report annual surveillance results for at least the last 5 years (preferably for 

the last 10 years). Cumulative sampling over the most recent 3-year period 

should be sufficient to detect at least a 1 percent prevalence of CWD in the 

source population with 95 percent confidence. 

4. Optionally, at the discretion of the receiving and/or source State or Tribe, a 

whole-herd rectal biopsy or other mutually agreed-on method of ante-mortem 

CWD test with concurrent genotyping may be performed on the assembled 

herd. Laboratory results must be “not detected” on all animals. Animals with 

untestable or incorrect location samples (i.e., samples that are autolyzed or of 

the wrong tissue type) may be retested.

b. Captive/farmed herd participation and compliance in an approved State CWD 

Herd Certification Program (HCP) or CWD monitoring program (number of herds, 

number of animals) including documented escapes within the 50-mile radius.
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VS Guidance 8000.2

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c. Captive/farmed herds with less than 5 years CWD HCP status (number of herds, 

number of animals).

d. Captive/farmed herds not enrolled in the CWD HCP program within the 50-mile 

radius.

e. Any CWD-positive results or traced animals in farmed/captive or wild cervids in 

the State over the last 10 years, with emphasis on the 50-mile radius of the 

source population for translocation.

f. Location of the nearest known case or cases of CWD in captive and wild cervids 

to the capture site.

3) Describe the disease history, surveillance, and epidemiology for TB and brucellosis

in all species within 50 miles of the capture site (which could include adjacent States 

or provinces), including:

a. TB and brucellosis surveillance of wild cervids in the 50-mile radius conducted 

per year, for the last 5 years. Include both passive and targeted surveillance, if 

applicable.

b. Compliant participation in a captive/farmed cervid TB accredited herd program 

(number of herds, number of animals) within the 50-mile radius.

c. Number of captive/farmed cervid herds in the 50-mile radius that are TB 

accredited and the number that are not accredited.

d. Any TB- or brucellosis-positive results or traced animals in farmed/captive or wild 

cervids in the State or Tribe over the last 5 years with emphasis on the 50-mile 

radius region of the source population for translocation.

e. Compliant participation in the captive/farmed Cervid Brucellosis Certification 

program (number of herds, number of animals).

f. Number of captive/farmed cervid herds in the area that are certified brucellosisfree herds and the number that are not accredited.

g. Number of captive/farmed cervid herds in the area that are brucellosis-monitored 

herds.

h. Location of the nearest known case or cases of TB and brucellosis in captive and 

wild cervids to the capture site.
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VS Guidance 8000.2

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4) A description of the quarantine, testing protocol, and plan of action if animals have nonnegative test results for TB and/or brucellosis. The proposed testing protocol must meet 

or exceed the attached recommended minimum testing protocol (Attachment 1). 

Additional testing may also be performed. Official test results should be submitted on 

receipt.

7. Inquiries

Please direct any inquiries to:

VS Cervid Health Staff Officer

USDA APHIS Veterinary Services

National Center for Animal Health Programs

2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg. B

Fort Collins, CO 80526

Attachments
 United States Department of Agriculture

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 Veterinary Services

VS Guidance 8000.2

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Attachment 1

A Recommended Minimum Quarantine and Testing Protocol for Tuberculosis and 

Brucellosis in Wild Caught Cervids for Interstate Movement

1. Pre-Movement Quarantine

A. After the last trapped animal is added, the assembled group of cervids is considered to 

be the herd. The assembled herd should be quarantined and no other animals may be 

added. 

B. The assembled herd must be contained within an enclosure surrounded by a double 8-

foot fence, with the two fences separated by at least 3 feet. 

C. All animals must have at least two forms of unique identification attached, one of which 

must be an official animal identification with a nationally unique identification number.

D. Any animals that die at any time during capture, quarantine, or transport must be 

subjected to a full necropsy to rule out pathology that could indicate TB or brucellosis. 

Additionally, they must be tested for CWD at an approved National Animal Health 

Laboratory Network (NAHLN) CWD testing lab or the National Veterinary Services 

Laboratories (NVSL). 

E. Receiving States or Tribes may also require additional quarantine requirements at their 

discretion.

F. Receiving States or Tribes may also require additional testing or quarantine 

requirements at their discretion. 

2. Testing

Testing may begin on the assembled herd at least 30 days after the last wild trapped animal 

is added and the quarantine is placed. Receiving States or Tribes may also require 

additional testing, at their discretion.

A. Brucellosis (Serology):

1) Screening test: Rapid automated presumption (RAP) or buffered acidified plate 

antigen (BAPA) – If a non-negative result, then complete:

a. Secondary test: Fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) – If FPA test result is 

greater than 20mP, then complete:
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b. Confirmatory test: Complement fixation (CF) – If the CF is positive and the 

animal is a reactor, perform necropsy and culture.

2) If CF is positive the entire group may be disqualified for translocation.

B. Tuberculosis

VS recommends conducting serological and skin testing in parallel, with a positive of any 

one method taking precedence over negative results by other methods.

1) Skin testing:

a. Single Cervical Test (SCT) – If there is any response, one of the following will be 

done:

b. Necropsy according to NVSL’s cervid TB necropsy protocol. Submit appropriate 

tissues to NVSL for histopathology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and 

culture. If results are positive for M. bovis, the entire group is disqualified for 

translocation and must be euthanized. 

c. Comparative Cervical Test (CCT) – If the animal is a suspect or reactor on the 

CCT, then euthanize the animal and perform a necropsy according to cervid TB 

necropsy protocol. Submit appropriate tissues to NVSL for histopathology, PCR, 

and culture. If the test is positive for M. bovis, the entire group is disqualified for 

translocation and must be euthanized.

2) Serology:

Serum should be submitted to NVSL for a dual path platform (DPP) test. If the test is 

positive, the animal may be euthanized and necropsied at that time or it may be held 

and retested with the DPP no sooner than 30 days after the initial test. If the DPP 

test is positive the second time, the animal must be euthanized and necropsied 

according to cervid TB necropsy protocol and appropriate tissues submitted to NVSL 

for histopathology, PCR, and culture. If the necropsy results are positive for M. bovis, 

the entire group is disqualified for translocation and must be euthanized.

3. Transport Requirements

Interstate transportation of quarantined animals must be in an approved solid enclosed 

conveyance with proper ventilation under official seal affixed by a State veterinarian or a 

VS Veterinary Medical Officer. This seal may only be opened by a VS Veterinary 

Medical Officer, State veterinarian, Tribal representative, or approved accredited 

veterinarian. 
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VS Guidance 8000.2

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Each animal in the shipment must have at least two forms of unique identification 

attached, one of which must be an official animal identification with a nationally unique 

identification number.

A certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) must be issued for interstate movement. It 

must contain the following information: 

• All identification numbers of each animal in the shipment.

• Total number of animals covered by the certificate.

• Purpose for which the animals are to be moved.

• Consignor and herd of origin with complete address(es).

• Consignee and point of destination with complete address(es).

• A statement by the issuing veterinarian that the animals were not exhibiting 

clinical signs associated with CWD, TB, brucellosis, or other contagious disease 

at the time of examination.

• A statement that the source population has been documented to be low risk for 

CWD based on a surveillance program in the wild cervid population.

• A copy of the signed Agreement for Interstate Transportation of Wild-Caught 

Cervids (Attachment 2) should accompany the CVI.

Cleaning and disinfection of the conveyance will be performed at the animals’ 

destination under the supervision of a State, Tribal, or VS representative.

4. Destination Quarantine

When the animals are offloaded at the destination, a VS or State animal health official, 

Tribal representative, or approved accredited veterinarian will be present to document any 

sick animals, injuries, or deaths.

Any animals that die at any time during capture, quarantine, or transport must be subjected 

to a full necropsy to rule out pathology that could indicate TB or brucellosis. Additionally, 

they must be tested for CWD at an approved NAHLN CWD testing lab or the NVSL. 

The assembled herd will be held under quarantine for at least 120 days after initially being 

assembled (i.e., prior to movement). All animals should be confined in an enclosure of 

adequate size to provide for the animals’ welfare, and surrounded by a double 8-foot-high 

perimeter fence with at least 3 feet between the fences. 

Brucellosis testing may be repeated at the discretion of the importing State.

A second TB test of the entire assembled herd should be performed at least 90 days or 

more following the date of arrival at the point of destination using DPP serological testing, 

SCT skin testing, or parallel testing using both methods.
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Animals showing non-negative results to any serological or skin tests must be necropsied 

and tissues for TB and CWD testing submitted to NVSL. The entire group must be kept in 

quarantine until histopathology and culture results are finalized and reported to be negative 

for M. bovis and immunohistochemistry is reported as “not detected” for CWD. If the 

confirmatory testing at NVSL is negative for all euthanized animals, the remaining animals in 

the lot may be released.
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Attachment 2

Agreement for Interstate Transportation of Wild-Caught Cervids Between:

(State of Origin) _______________ and (Receiving State) _______________.

This document indicates the review and agreement by the State of origin _______________,

the receiving State _______________, and their respective State agencies having authority for

wild cervids; and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary 

Services (VS), in accordance with the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) rule (9 CFR

81.3(b)), that the summary statement and supporting documentation provided by (State of

origin) _______________, from which wild cervids will be obtained for this interstate

movement, are from a source population documented to be low risk for CWD based on the

information provided.

Further, and as applicable, that the wild cervids to be translocated either (check appropriate box):

□ Meet the bovine tuberculosis testing requirements for interstate movement of captive/ wild 

cervids in 9 CFR 77.20 and 9 CFR 77.27, 

OR

□ The States have requested and received from VS a waiver of the bovine tuberculosis testing 

requirements for interstate movement of the captive /wild cervids in accordance with 9 CFR 

77.38.

□ With the signature of the VS officials below, it is acknowledged that the waiver for bovine 

tuberculosis testing requirements for captive wild-caught cervids is granted in accordance 

with 9 CFR 77.38.

In addition, each of the cervids captured from this wild population for interstate movement and 

release must have two forms of animal identification, one of which is USDA official animal 

identification, in accordance with 9 CFR 81.3(b).

State of Origin/Agency:

Signature: _________________________ Date: _______________

Name/Title: ______________________________ State Veterinarian

State of Origin/Agency:

Signature: _________________________ Date: _______________

Name/Title: ______________________________ Wildlife Veterinarian
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Receiving State/Agency:

Signature: _________________________ Date: _______________

Name/Title: ______________________________ State Veterinarian

USDA APHIS Veterinary Services Signatures:

District Assistant Director: _________________________ Date: _______________

Sheep, Goat, Cervid, and 

Equine Health Center Director: _________________________ Date: _______________